UK's wintering birds affected by climate change
The State of UK's Birds 2006 report has shown the population of some wintering species is declining, most likely due to climate change. Each winter we are visited by over five million ducks, swans, geese and waders from Northern Europe, Greenland, Siberia and Arctic Canada. They come here because our winters are fairly mild and we do not get much snow and ice (hard to believe I know!). The numbers of certain species, including the black tailed godwit and the avocet are on the rise since the late 70s, mostly due to conservation measures, but the report notes the decline of many other wintering birds including white-fronted geese, shellduck, dunlin and turnstone. Climate change means that temperatures are rising across the planet, so birds may be less inclined to fly as far for the winter
Dr Baz Hughes, head of species conservation at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, said: 'Every winter, the UK's estuaries, marshes and wetlands throng with the arrival of ducks, geese, swans and wading birds, making the UK one of the most important countries in the world for some of these birds. However, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the declining numbers of some populations. While some are simply taking advantage of milder winters by staying on the continent, others like the Greenland white-fronted goose, are in real and rapid decline. Conservation action is needed urgently to reverse these declines.'
Natural England's Chief Scientist Tom Tew said: 'Sympathetic and effective management of the UK's world-renowned network of internationally important waterbird sites and the surrounding countryside is vital if we are to minimise the adverse impacts of climate change on our overwintering birds. Agri-environment schemes have a crucial role to play by encouraging land management practices that benefit birds and other wildlife.'
If you are interested in reading the entire report and it's findings you can see it in .pdf format here.
